Stereotype plate casting machine



Feb-2, 1937. w. F. HUCK STEREOTYPE PL ATE CASTING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR A-r'rYs Feb. 2, 1937. w. F. HUCK STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 2, 1937; w H CK 2,069,248

STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING MACHINE Fi'led June 11, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOF! Feb. 2, 1937. w. F. HUCK STEREOTYFE PLATE CASTING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENI'OR mo N Feb. 2, 1937. w. F. HUCK.

STEREOTYFE PLATE CASTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 11, 1932 Feb. 2, 1937. w. F. HUCK STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1932 9 Shee,ts-Sheet 6 R O T N E v. m

Q U-k a Feb. 2, 1937. w. F. HUCK STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1932 9 Sheets-:Sheet '7 INVENTOR Feb. 2, 1937. w. F.-HUCK STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1932 9 Sheet-Sheet s s R ,Y 8 v T g m. 1 W M s N; m I- 2M e v G m M I .l I F M B 8 a Feb. g, 1937.

w. F. HUCK STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 nlll ill Patented Feb. 2, 1937 PATENT OFFlE 2,069,248 STEREOTYPE PLATE ons'rmc monnvn William F. Huck, Richmond HilL-N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to R. Hoe & 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation'oi New York Application June 11, 1932, Serial No 616,653

the mat or matrix from which the plates are cast.

A further object of the invention is to produce such an organized machine in which the cast plate is delivered from the casting mechanismto a delivery by which it may be moved to any desired point in the press-room.

It is a further object of the invention to so conduct the casting operation, that is, to so conduct the supply of metal to the mold that the air in the mold is driven out therefrom by the advancing metal which forms the cast plate, so that fsuch air is not forced back through the metal, and the formation of air holes which produce a weakened or porous plate is prevented.

a A further object of the invention is to improve the general construction and arrangement of the mechanisms making up the casting apparatus and to produce a casting apparatus of few parts and simple form, and in which the parts are easily accessible for adjustment, repair, or any other necessary or desired reasons.

Generally speaking, casting mechanism embodying the invention will include a stationary core, a movable back or cover, spaced apart to form a casting chamber between them, these part being preferably arranged in a horizontal position when casting, and means for supplying metal to'the interior of the casting chamber at a point between the side edges thereof so that as the metal is supplied to the casting chamber it will rise in the chamber on each side, forcing the air in the casting chamber outwardly ahead of the cast plate from the back after the latter has been removed from the core, such means also acting to transfer the plate to a suitable delivery.

One construction for effecting the objects of the invention is showntin the accompanyingdrawings, but it will be understood, however, that this showing is illustrative only of a machine-suitable for the purposes intended, and that the specific construction and arrangement oi the parts oi the machine shown may be varied without departing from' the invention.

In these drawings, 5

Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly broken away, oi'the casting mechanism embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, oi the mechanism shown 10 in Figure 1 looking in the direction of arrow 2 of that figure;

Figure 3 is a top or plan view, partly in section, showing the bottom of the melting pot and associated parts, the view being taken in the direction 5 ofarrow3oiFigure4;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view; partly in section, of the casting mechanism shown in the preceding figures, the .view being taken looking in the direction of arrow 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 1m vertical cross-sectional view oi the casting mechanism, the view being taken on line 5'5 01 Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a central sectional view of one end of the casting mechanism, the view being taken'gg; on line 6-6 of Figure 4 looking in the direction oi arrows 6 of that figure;

Figure 7 is a detail end view, partly broken away, showing the mechanism ior holding the mat or matrix and operating the side gauges when re- 30 moving a plate, the view being taken in the direction of arrow 1 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a detail vertical view, on an enlarged scale and partly in section, of part of the construction shown in Figure 1, showing the posi-' 35 tion of the back or cover of the casting box and associated parts during the removal. oi a plate, looking in the direction of arrow 8 oi Figure 2:

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view showing the mechanism for operating the plate clamps, the 40 view being taken in the direction oi arrow 9 of Figure 1; I Figure 10 is a detail sectional view of'one oi the headgauges and the means by which it ismounted, the view being taken .looking in the direction of arrow in oi Figure'4; L V Figure 11 is a detail sectional view 01! the that or matrix holding and side gauge devices, the

view being takenlooking in the direction of arrowv away more or less I the mechanisms for automatically operating the the metal in a desired state of fluidity, such various parts of the casting mechanism shown in the preceding fi es.

Referring now to these drawings, the parts of the mechanism may be supported in mainside framing of any suitable construction, marked I, 2. These side frames support a melting pot, indicated by the numeral 3, this meltingpot being supported loosely in the framing so as to permit a movement thereof due to the expansion of the pot, a convenient means being that illustrated in which the pot is shown as formed with brackets 4 secured to the framing by spring rod constructions, indicated at 5 in Figures 1 and 2, these springs providing the desired resilient mounting.

This melting pot may be of any suitable configuration, but in the best constructions, for reasons hereinafter referred to, this pot will be what may be termed hopper-shaped, having a V- shaped discharge, formed by a pouring spout indicated at 6, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and section lines in Figure 5, the walls of this spout converging, as shown in Figure 5, to form a. relatively narrow discharge outlet, indicated at 1. In the best constructions, means located in the pot will be provided for keeping means being of any desired character, as a plurality of electric heating units, marked 8 in Figures l and 2.

This metal pot is supported at a relatively high elevation above the casting chamber, as

compared with the usual plate casting machines, and the pouring opening 1 and the casting chamber are arranged closely adjacent so that the hydrostatic pressure of the metal in the pot is utilized to completely flll the casting chamber, a valve mechanism, hereinafter referred to, being used to fill the mold and to cut off the metal close to the inside surface of the plate when the valve is closed.

ing left between them forming a casting chamber into which the'metal is supplied to cast a plate, this member being indicated at M in Figure 1.

In accordance with the invention, the metal is supplied from the pot to this casting chamber at a point between its side or straight edges, so that the metal spreads in opposite directions in the mold chamber and acts to force out any air that may be contained therein. Thus this air is not returned through the metal, with the result that a substantially non-porous stronger plate is produced. Ordinary air leakage through the parts of the mold may be sufficient for this expelling of the but if desired exits for this air may be provided, shown as small apertures,

indicated at l5 and best shown in Figure 5,

these exits l5 being formed in the side gauges hereinafter referredto.

This distrlbutionof the metal in the mold chamber may be efiected in various ways, but

in the particularconstruction shown the con strlcted portion 6 of the bottom of the melting pot enters the back of the core, which in the particular construction shown is semi-cylindrical at a point approximately centrally thereof, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5, so that the casting chamber is divided approximately in half, the metal spreading substantially equally from each side of the pouring spout.

Means are provided for controlling the flow of metal to the casting chamber. While these means may vary somewhat in construction, they will, however, include a valve mechanism by which the bottom of the pouring spout B may be opened and closed at suitable times, being open for casting of the plate and closed to permit the removal of a plate. While the particular structure of this valve mechanism may be somewhat varied, as illustrated, the bottom of the core I2 is cut out centrally widthwise, and in this cut out portion is inserted what may be termed a controller plate l6, best shown in Figa slide valve in the form of a bar I 8, see 'Fig- 1 ure 5, having a plurality of constricted pouring openings l9, see'Figure 6, the bottom of these openings being approximately the size of the pouring openings ll in the core before re.- ferred to. This bar has a sliding movement in the plate l,6, this platebeing formed with shoulders 20, forming lower tracks on which the valve bar may slide. The lower edge of the valve bar around the pouring openings has a tight fit with the portion of the plate with which it contacts, so as to prevent leakage of metal between the plate and the lower edge of the bar. Similarly,-the upper edge Zl. of the bar has a tight .flt against the under surface of the sides of the pouring spout 6 of the pot, as indicated at 22 in Figure 5.

In the best constructions, means are provided for compensating for any expansion in the parts, due to the heat of the metal, so that the valve mechanism will not stick but will operate freely under all working conditions. While means for eflecting this may be somewhat varied, in the particular construction illustrated the core is supported from the metal pot 3, this pot, as shown in Figure 5, being. provided with a flange 23 and the core being supported from this flange by a spring rod construction '24, the springs permitting movement of the core as it expands and contractsdue to the varying heat of the metal, these springs being tensioned to maintain the .desired pressure between the core and the surface of the valve bar.

This valve bar may be operated in any suitable manner, but in the particular construction illustrated it is connected to a cylinder 25 (see core above referred to, provided to compensate for the expansion or contraction in the parts. As shown, the cylinder is providedwith a flange 28 and is secured by means of bolts 29 to a frame member 30, which in turn is secured to the core by means of bolts 3| (Figure 3). This inner frame 36 is a strengthening frame for the parts and is supported so as to have a vertical movement to permit the adjusting movement of the core, before referred to. This inner frame is provided, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, with a slot or opening 32 in which slides a block 63, see Figure 6, which is secured to the melting pot 3 by bolts 34. In the same slot slides a second block 35, which is bolted to one of the main frames, before referred to, by bolts 36. The spout portion 6 of the melting pot is also secured to the bottom of the pot 3 by means of bolts 81 screwed into the flange 23, before referred to, the spout member 6 being provided with a flange 38 to enable this to be done. It will be seen with this construction that the core, the strengthening frame, and the mechanism for operating the slide valve may also partake of a limited movement due to the expansion and contraction of the parts. Of course, it will be understood that the cylinder 25 and associated parts will be duplicated on the other side of the casting apparatus so as to effect a reciprocating movement of the valve bar. This mechanism, however, is identical to that described and a showing has been omitted for the sake of clearness.

It will be understood that a printing plate, marked I4, is cast in the casting chamber between the core and ,the'cover, this plate in the particular construction shown being a curved or semi-cylindrical stereotype printing plate and, in accordance with the usual practice, the impression surface of this plate is formed by the usual matrix or mat. Constructions embodying the invention will include means by which thismat is held in place in the casting chamber, and means by which the mat may be freed from the plate when a cast'plate is -to be removed. It will also be understood that head gauges are provided by which a bevel, indicated at B in Figure 9, is formed on the curved edges of the plate, this bevel being provided to cooperate with the usual plate clamps on the form cylinder of the press to lock the platein place on the cylinder, the straight edges of the plates being formed by the side bars forming a part .of the matrix holding devices. b

While various means maybe provided for positioning the matrix and cooperating the head gauges, that illustratedis a convenient one and will now be described. I

Referring to Figures 5, 7, and 11, it will'be understood that the matrix is held in the concave portion or cover of the mold. In the particular construction illustrated the edges of the matrix are held by a pair of pivoted jaw members 39, 46, generally shown in Figure 8. The specific arrangement of these members may be somewhatvaried, but as shown these'jaw members include a lower member 4| and an upper member 42 having a sliding engagement with the low er member; The lower member is supported on arms 43 loosely mounted on a rockshaft 44 which extends across the machine, as shown in Figure '7. The upper jaw 42 is held in place on the lower jaw 4| by a set screw 45 having afianged head, and the upper jaw is provided with a recess 46 so that this upper jaw 62 may have a sliding movement relatively to the screw 45 and the, lower jaw 4|, to clamp the upper edge of the matrix, indicated by M, in place. It will be understood that the arms 43 are supported from the walls of the cover or base 9, before referred to, and as clearly shown in Figures 7 and 11. The required pressure for locking the jaws into holding relation with thematrix is afforded by a spring 41 which is preferably centrally arranged and engages a pair of fingers 48, 49 loosely mounted on the shaft 44, .before referred to. These fingers pass through clearance holes 50 in the lower jaw members 4|, as shown in Figure 5, and engage in the upper members 42. The spring also engages an arm loosely mounted on the shaft 44, this arm forming an abutment for the spring 41. This spring acts to hold the two jaw members in locking relation with the matrix M. It will, of course, be understood that a pair of the matrix'clamps is provided on each side of the mold.

Other springs, 52, 53, connected to the lower jaw members 41 and to fixed members 52', 53', act'to rock the shaft 44 to hold the jaws as a whole in casting position, as shown in Figure 11.

After the plate has been cast, means are provided for moving the back or cover away from plate from. the cover, it being understood that as the mold is opened the plate and matrix move away from the core with the cover. While these means may vary within certain limits, in the particular construction shown this movement is a swinging movement, the back or cover being swung away to one side or the other of the core. In the particular construction illustrated, the cover is carried in a pair of swinging arms 54, 55, see Figure 2, on a rock-shaft 56 extending across the machine. This shaft at one end, see Figure 2, is provided with a sector 51 which engages with a rack 58 connected at each end with a pair of pistons 59, 60, which operate in cylinders 6|, 62 suitably supported in the main frame of the machine. These pistons are operated in any suitable manner, as by fluid pressure supplied from any suitable source, not shown. The fluid pressure, of course, may be controlled in any suitable manner, either through a manual control or suitable automatic devices hereinafter referred to. The movement of the pistons causes the cover to move from the casting position, shown in dotted lines at the right hand side of Figure l, to the delivery position, shown in full lines at the left hand side of Figure 1 and more in detail in Figure 8. As the cover moves from casting to delivery position, means are provided for causing the side gauges and matrix clamps to partially move awayfrom the plate,as shownin Figure 8, and to move the head gauges to clear them from the plate, so that the plate can be removed from the cover as hereinafter referred to.

Referring first to the mechanism for operating the side gauges and matrix clamps, this may be vvaried, of course, within certain limits. As illusand above and below the back or cover when it is in delivery position, as shown in Figure 8, one of the core to release the plate and to deliver the the lower shafts being shown in Figure 8 and marked I3. These short shafts are provided with gear segments 15 loosely mounted thereon, which mesh with corresponding segments I6 on the lower jaw member 4|, before referred to. Positioned on the short shafts I2, I3 are springs 11, these springs being more heavily tensioned than the springs 52, before referred to, which are positioned on the shaft 44. The lever arms 63, 64 are employed to remove the plate from the mold and deposit it on a delivery mechanism. When they swing downward with the plate as will be hereinafter described, the edge of the plate contacts with the jaw members 39, 4'9 and starts to swing the jaw members around the shaft ll.

As the plate continues its outward movement through the action of the segments I5, I6, the jaw members are given a further swinging movement around their pivoted shaft 44 to the-position shown in Figure 8, in which position they are maintained by the heavy springs 'I'I until the plate has passed by them and the cam rolls 69 have rolled off the cam 66, whereupon the jaw members are returned to the closed position shown in Figure 11 by the springs 52. It, of

' course, will be understood that the locking jaws being held in the position shown in Figure 8, the continued movement of the plate toward the right, as shown in that figure, will peel the matrix from the plate, and upon the return of the locking jaws to normal position the mat will be in position for a succeeding cast.

The mechanism by which the plate is removed from the back or cover may, of course, vary in construction. In the particular devices employed for accomplishing this, however, there is provided a pair of grippers for gripping the curved edges of the plate. In the particular construction shown, the lever arms 63, carry a pair of clips I8, I9, see Figure 2 and shown in detail in Figure 9. Each. of these clips is mounted to slide in a boss 89 formed on the lever arms 63, 64,

before referred to, and each clip is provided with a groove 8| dimensioned to receive the bevelled edge of the plate. These clips may be given a sliding movement in the. boss in any suitable manner. In the particular construction shown the boss is recessed, as shown' at 92, to receive the stem of a. piston 93, which acts against aspring 94. This piston is operated by fluid pressure in any suitable manner, not shown, through flexible pipe connections 95, shown in Figure 2.

It will be understood that the plate is cast with the head and tail bevelled by the head gauges so as to fit the end clamps on the press, and in removing a plate from the casting mechanism it is necessary that the-gauges by which this" bevel is produced, and which may be called headgauges, be moved out of the way so that the'back or cover with the plate may be removed from the core. While this'may be effected in various ways, in the particular construction illustrated, see

Figures 3 and 6, which show the gauges at each end of the machine, and Figure 10 which shows one of the gauges in detail. These gauges are in the form of sliding plates, marked 96, Figure 6 and Figure 3. These gauge plates, as clearly shown in Figure. 10, are provided with a bevelled surface 99' and are given a sliding movement so that they will clear the bevel on the edge of the plate when the. plate is being removed from the core. These gauges may be operated to have this sliding-movement in any suitable manner. As shown, see Figure 10, the gauge is fastened, by

' screws, to a slide 99 which is provided with an Figure 6, one end of which is connected to a spring 99, which normally acts to hold the parts in closed position. The arm 95 is actuated against the spring 96 to open or to move the slides out of engagement with the plates by means of a plunger 91 operating in a cylinder 98 carried by the casting cylinder 25, before referred to, this plunger 91 being operated through a pipe connection 99 from any suitable source of fluid presure, not shown. The movement of this plunger may be controlled either manually or through automatic connections, as later referred to. Itmay happen under certain circumstances that the weight of the locking jaws and gauges and the tension of the springs .52 are not suflicient to hold the parts in proper casting position while the. cast is being made. In the best constructions, therefore, means are provided for exerting a positive pressure on these parts to hold them in proper position. While these means may vary somewhat in cover as hereinbefore referred to, it is carried by the gripping devices and the swinging lever arms 63, 94 and delivered to any suitable delivery. In the particular construction shown, the lever arms act to lower the plate onto a runway or track comprising rolls on which the straight edges of the numeral I92. After the plate has been de- .posited on the rollers, the pressure in the pistons '83 is released, thus releasing the grippers, and the gripping mechanism and the lever arms'are then free to swing back into receiving position for the next plate. The mechanism for operating the lever arms 63, 64 may, of course, be varied within wide limits. As shown, however, this movement is accomplished by means of a gear sector I93 on the end of the rock-shaft 65, before referred to. This sector is in mesh with a rack I94 connected to a pair of pistons I95, I96 operating in a cylinder I91, towhich fluid pressure may be supplied in any suitable manner, as by a pipe connection I", see Figure 2. I

In order that the mat or matrix may be readily removed from and inserted in the locking jaws, means are provided for releasing these locking jaws, such means being shown in the form of a thumb screw I99, see Figure 5, operating a screw rod 9 against the action of the spring 41, be-

fore referred to, by the operation of which rod of fluidity. Where such heating is defimd, this maybe readily eifected by a set of electric heating' units. indicated by the numerals III, "2 and .as best shown-in Figures 4 and 5.

Where electric or other heating devices are emplayed, there is provided a suitable insulating .medium. indicated at I it; between such units and 40 the plates rest, these rollers being indicated by a the wall of the core, this construction keeping the spout at the proper high temperature and thev vide what may be termed a bearing on the plate cylinders.

In machines constructed in the preferred form, the casting operation will be so controlled that the excess of metal is cut ofi at the height or slightly below the height of the ribs on the plate, so that there will be no projecting parts which have to be removed by trimming or shaving to fit the platefor immediate use on the cylinder.

While the sequence of movement in the casting operation described may be performed manually, under some circumstances it may be desirable to do this in an automatic manner, the metal supply valve being closed at the proper time and the mold opened after the plate is set and swung to plate delivery position, the'grippers operated to grip the plate, and .the plate delivery arms being operated to deliver the plate and return to plate receiving position. Various constructions ation, and a mechanism for operating one of the parts of the machine in this automatic manner is shown in Figures 12 and 13 of the drawings, it being understood that this mechanism will be duplicated for automatically operating as many parts of the casting machine described as may be desired. As these mechanisms are duplicated, however, but one has been shown in detail and will now be described.

Referring to Figures 12 and 13, the mechanism has been illustrated-as operating the pistons 59, 60, which control the opening and closing of the casting chamber, that is, the mechanism by which the cover or back is moved away from the core to plate delivery position and then back to casting position. This mechanism includes a shaft I20 which is common to all the valve mechanisms which maybe used, depending upon the number of parts of the casting machine it is desired to operate automatically. This shaft is provided on one end with a gear I2I which is in mesh with a worm I22 secured to a shaft I23 which is driven from any suitable prime mover, as a motor I24, this motor being controlled by any suitable switch mechanism for starting and stopping it at suitable times.

The specific construction of the means for automatically controlling the pressure fluid to thecylinders may, of course, be widely varied, but as shown this is' a valve mechanism. This valve mechanism in the particular construction illustrated includes four valves I26, I21, I28 and I29, shown diagrammatically in'Figure 12 and in detail in Figure 13'; Fluid pressure is supplied through a pipe I30 and escapes through a pipe }I3I. Connected with this fluid pressure pipe are valve casings I32, I33 for the valves I21, I29, and these valve casings, through pipes I 34, I35, connect with valve casings I36, I31 for the valves I28, I 28. These valves are operated in proper sequence to cause the reciprocation of the pistons It will be understood that valve I21 controls the inlet to cylinder'GI while the valve I26 con-. trols its outlet, and similarly the valve I29 controls the inlet to cylinder 62 and the valve I28 controls its outlet.

With thisconstruction and the parts in proper timed relation, the pistons 59, 60 are automatically operated to open the mold and move the back or cover thereof to plate delivery position. Similar mechanism is used for operating the pistons I 05 and I01 which actuate the arms 63, 64, and also for operating the controller plate I6. Similar mechanism is also provided for operating the pistons which actuate the plate gripping device 18 and for retracting the head gauges 86. However, as the plate gripping and head gauge operating devices are spring operated in one direction, only two valves are necessary to operate each of them.

It will also be understood that if desired, the

. circulation of the cooling fluid may be controlled by the same timing mechanism so that the circulation is stopped when the mold is not in operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing plate casting machine, the.

combination of metal supplying means, a mold having a horizontal semi-cylindrical casting chamber, and means for supplying molten metal .to the casting chamber at its lowest portion along a line extending throughout the length of the chamber parallel to the axis of the casting chamtion of a metal reservoir, a horizontal curved casting chamber or mold supported directly below the reservoir, and means for supplying metal to the mold at its lowest portion and intermediate its side edges and curved ends so that the metal flows upwardly in opposite directions from a line substantially central of said casting chamber in filling the mold.

3. In a plate casting machine, the combination ofmetal supplying means, a horizontal curved casting chamber comprising a core and a back, means for supplying metal to the casting chamber substantially centrally of its side edges, means for swinging the back of the mold away from the core, a transfer mechanism for removing the cast plate from the back, and means for operating the transfer mechanism to deliver the plate.

4. In a plate casting and delivery mechanism, the combination of a metal supplying means and a two part casting chamber or mold positioned to receive molten metal directly from the metal I to a part of the casting chamber and movable to release the plate, means for lowering a part of the chamber with the plate away from the other part, plate-conveyingmeans, and an automatically operated transfer mechanism which operably engages the plate retaining means to release the plate from the chamber part and takes the plate from the mold and deposits said plate on the plate-conveying means.

5. In a plate casting mechanism, the combination of metal supplying means, a horizontal curved casting chamber comprising a core and a back, controlling means for supplying metal to the casting chamber, means for lowering the back and cast plate-away from the core, means for stripping the matrix from the plate, a transfer mechanism for removing the cast plate-from the back and depositing same upon conveying instrumen-,

, casting chamber comprising a core and a back,

controlling means for supplying metal to the casting chamber, means for lowering the back and cast plate away from the core, means for strip ping the matrix from the plate, a transfer mechanism for removing-the cast plate from the back, fluid pressure devices for actuating these mechanisms, and automatic means for operating the fluid pressure devices in timed sequence.

7. In a plate casting and delivery mechanism, the combination of' metal supplying means, a casting chamber comprising a core and a back, means for moving the back and plate away from the core, plate retaining means carried by the back to hold the plate in the back and operable to release the plate, a transfer mechanism, plate gripping means carried by the transfer mechanism and'automatically operable to grip the plate, the transfer mechanism operably engaging the plate retaining means to release the plate from the back, and means for automatically actuating the transfer mechanism to deliver the plate, said last mentioned means being efiective to deposit said plate upon conveying instrumentalities.

8. In a plate casting mechanism, the combi .nation of a metal reservoir, a horizontal curved casting chamber comprising a stationary core and a movable back located below the reservoir, means for controlling the supply of metal to the casting chamber, means actuated by a valve controlled by a piston for lowering the back with the cast plate and matrix away from the core, .a transfer mechanism to which the plate is delivered, means operated by the transfer mechanism for stripping the matrix from the plate, means for operating the transfer mechanism to deliver the plate, and automatically operated fluid pressure means for causing the operation of these mechanisms in timed sequence.

9. In a plate casting mechanism, the combination of metal supplying means, a horizontalconveying means.

10. In a mechanism adapted to cast a stereotype plate, the combination of a reservoir adapted to contain molten metal, a horizontal curved casting chamber comprisinga stationary core and a movable back, a duct connecting the reservoir with ports disposed substantially along the center line of the mold, a slide valve for-controlling the the casting chamber, and means for" operating.

thevalve.

- 12. In a plate casting and delivery machine, the combination of metal supplying means, a casting chamber including a core anda back, the core beingprovided with head gauges, matrix clamps, plate retaining means' and side gauges carried by the back, means for moving the back with. the cast plate and matrix away from the core, means for stripping the matrix from the cast plate, a conveying mechanism, and a transfer mechanism for operably engaging the plate retaining means to release the plate and for automatically taking the plate from the back and delivering it upon the conveying mechanism.

13. In a plate casting machine, the combination of metal supplying means, a casting chamber or mold in which a plate is cast, means for separating the mold parts, means for delivering the plate from the mold, fluid pressure means for operating the parts in the stated sequence, and a common means for automatically operating the fluid pressure means.

14. In a plate casting and delivery mechanism, the combination of metal supplying means, a casting chamber, plate retaining members for holding the plate to a component of the casting chamber, means for controlling the supply of metal to the chamber, plate-conveying means, operably engaging the plate retaining means to release the plate from the chamber component and automatically removing a plate from the casting chamber to the coacting plate-conveying means, and other means for actuating the metal controlling means and the means for automatically moving the plate.

15. In a plate casting and delivery mechanism,

. the combination of automatically operated metal supplying means, a casting chamber, plate retain- .ing means to hold the plate in the casting cham- '16. In a plate casting mechanism, the combination of metal supplying means, a casting chamber communicating with said metal supplying means, plate retaining means to hold the plate in the casting chamber and movable to release the plate, instrumentalities for automatically controlling the supply of metal to the chamber, delivery means for operably engaging the plate retaining means to release the plate and for automatically removing the'piate from the casting chamber and bodily lowering same away from the casting chamber, and automatic means for actuating the metal controlling instrumentalities and the delivery means in operable sequence.

17. In a printing plate casting machine, the combination of metal supplyin means, a horizontal semi-cylindrical casting chamber, and

means for supplying metal to the chamber along alineparallelto theaxisotthecastingchamber and extending throughout the length of the chamber intermediate its side edges at the lowest portion of the chamber so that the metal flows in opposite directions and upwardly from the axial-line in filling the chamber.

18. In a plate casting machine, the combination of a horizontal casting chamber curving uniformly laterally and upwardly from its lowest and central portion, a valve positioned at the lowest and central portion of the casting chamber and extending substantially the length thereof, metal supplying means positioned above the casting chamber and extending downwardly between the laterally and upwardly curved portions of the casting chamber to the valve, the valve being constructed and arranged to supply metal along a line at the lowest and central portion of the casting chamber.

19. In a plate casting machine, the combination of metal supplying means, a casting chamber, means for controlling the supply of metal to the chamber, a conveyor, delivery means for removing the plate from the casting chamber and depositing it onto the conveyor, fluid pressure actuated mechanism for operating the metal controlling means and delivery means, and means actuated by a moving component of the casting mechanism for controlling the sequence of operl ation of the fluid pressure actuated mechanism.

20. In a plate casting. machine, the combination of a metal reservoir, a horizontal casting chamber comprising a curved core and back, a

' spout communicating with the metal reservoir and positioned within the core and extending substan ally throughout the length of the casting cha ber, a valve mechanism extending substantially throughoutthe length of the casting chamber and controlling the supply of metal from the reservoir through the spout to the casting the melting pot into the casting chamber of the mold, and commonmeans for yieldingly securing the mold to the melting pot and for operably securing the valve between the melting pot and the mold.

melting pot suitably supported by the frame, a mold including a core and a removable cover defining a casting chamber therebetween, a valve operably interposed between the melting pot and the mold core and operable to control the flow of molten metal from the melting pot into the casting chamber, and common means for yieldingly,

22. In a plate casting mechanism, a frame, a

including a core and a removable cover defining I a casting chamber therebetween, a valve oper-' ably interposed between the spout and the mold core and operable to control the flow of molten metal from the melting pot into the casting chamber, and means for yieldingly securing the mold core to the melting pot and for yieldingly securing the valve in operable position between the spout and the mold core.

24. In a plate casting. mechanism, a frame, a melting pot supported by the frame, a mold having a casting chamber, resilient members for yieldingly securing the mold to the melting pot to permit expansion and contractlonwof the components of the melting pot and mold, and a valve operably interposed between the mold and melting pot and operable to control the flow of metal from the melting pot into the casting chamber of the mold, the valve being held in operable relationship between the melting pot and mold under the tension exerted by the resilient members.

WILLIAM F. HUCK. 

